I’ve written before about seasonal changes, something I appreciate, and it's starting again—the early sunrise and later sunsets. I didn’t set my beloved "sunrise" alarm clock that I recently bought after my previous one pretended to be dead until I replaced it. When I did, it came back to life just long enough to be packed away as a backup. I actually like the new one more now. But for the next few months, it won't matter much because the sunlight itself—not a Temu knockoff—is doing what I need: waking me gently and naturally, and fairly early too. Just this morning, as I woke up to start another day, I looked out our window at the orange glow of sunlight among the scattered clouds in the sky and remembered my mantra: “I get to be here. I get to have this experience.” It's easier said than done, given that every day brings challenges, disappointment, a sense of loss, self-doubt, and uncertainty. But I still try my best to remember that my time here is limited. During that time, all the history and all the unknown outcomes are just thoughts—vivid, overwhelming, distorted reflections, exaggerated and amplified projections of what-ifs. When I truly pause and consider how much of my day is spent outside the present moment —the place, the person, the experience —it's absurd—probably 10%, maybe 15%, on a good day, at best. Even hiking in a beautiful vista often becomes secondary to capturing an image that can never fully convey its impact. It's a constant effort not to be elsewhere but fully here. For example, I still miss our dog, Scottie, and regret not being more aware of how limited our time was. Yet, I fail to keep that awareness when helping my mom with her care needs, distracted by potential traffic or annoyed by the repetition of stories I’ll someday regret not appreciating. I’ve had to accept a cold distance from Tommy as a necessary boundary due to past abuse, but I understand the responsibility I have—to both myself and him—to let him learn from the consequences of his choices. All of this feels essential, important, and worth every bit of effort to stay mindful and aware. Though I realize this might be boring and annoying to read about for so long. :-)